Since NASCAR introduced its final four postseason format in 2014, Busch has finished in 10th place and has three top-three finishes to go along with a championship. It feels like it's time for him to win another one, doesn't it? And if he does, will he finally be included in the marketing plan?!

There's garage buzz that NASCAR tightened up the rulebook pages that Truex exploited to produce one of the most dominant seasons in recent memory. Then again, the garage buzzed all last season with "well, what they were doing won't work anymore," and it still totally worked.

BK spent 2017 seemingly always almost ready to get over the hump, but he never quite did. Can his Ford, now easily the oldest of the sport's three models, get enough traction to reach the mountaintop? So far it's batting 1.000.

Still think of Stewart-Haas Racing as a new team? SHR's cars are sporting 10th anniversary stickers. Still think of Harvick as a young gun? This is his 18th season in Cup. Life comes at you fast. Or as it says on the side of Happy's car, freaky fast.

He bested his best average finish for a season (11.6) and equaled career bests for top fives (15) and top 10s (22), but he finished sixth in the standings after a feud with Elliott. If he never wins a Cup title, last fall might end up becoming the illustration of his career.

Blaney has mastered social media and podcasting. After his promotion from Penske affiliate Wood Brothers Racing to actual Penske, the ceiling is the roof. Oh, and he totally agrees with me that people need to chill about Luke Skywalker's force ghosting in "The Last Jedi."

Speaking of promotions, Jones moves from Furniture Row Racing to Joe Gibbs Racing. But keep in mind that last year the supposed AAA team he just left kicked the collective butts of their big league affiliate.

While we were all watching the battle to see who would make the playoffs, Suarez went from posting only three top 10s in the first 18 races of 2017 to racking up nine over the last 18. That's called a turnaround.

Jamie Mac hasn't won since 2013, but his vibe feels the best it has in years, unlike the negative vibe I have when the manager at Mickey D's says, "No, man, we still don't have Egg White Delight McMuffins on the all-day breakfast menu."

After Ricky's two 2017 wins, is Roush Fenway Racing back? After a winter of fielding questions about breaking up with Danica Patrick, is his mojo back? After upsetting Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl are his beloved Ole Miss Rebels back?